Biography
Lambrini Girls are an English punk rock duo formed in Brighton in 2019 by vocalist Flora Kimberly, guitarist and backing vocalist Phoebe Lunny, bassist and backing vocalist Fox O'Reilly, and drummer Catt Jack. The band took its name from Lambrini, a brand of perry marketed toward women, which Lunny described as 'toilet wine for sluts.' Their first show was in May 2019, but by October 2020, Kimberly left, Lunny took over lead vocals, and Selin Macieira-Boşgelmez (also known as Lilly Macieira) joined on bass after meeting Lunny in 2018 while working at the same Brighton bar; they had previously been in Wife Swap USA together. The current lineup is Phoebe Lunny (vocals/guitar) and Selin Macieira-Boşgelmez (bass).
In 2021, they released their debut single 'Homewrecker' and signed to Big Scary Monsters in November 2022 after filling in last-minute at The Great Escape Festival. Their May 2023 EP You're Welcome, featuring singles like 'White Van' (about catcalling), 'Lads Lads Lads' (about lad culture), and using a flaming feces cover art partly funded by Macieira-Boşgelmez's inheritance, earned positive reviews. The band blends riot grrrl, queercore, and punk styles, with raw, politically charged lyrics addressing misogyny, toxic masculinity, trans rights, far-right politics, and gender dysphoria in tracks like 'God's Country' (2024), 'Body of Mine' (2024), and their 2025 debut album Who Let the Dogs Out, which charted at No. 16 on the UK Albums Chart.
Lambrini Girls gained attention for activism, including defending trans youth against critics like Graham Linehan, criticizing Matty Healy, protesting SXSW and The Great Escape over Israel-Palestine sponsors, and releasing merchandise benefiting domestic violence charities. Despite early riot grrrl labels, they reject the tag, emphasizing their unique sound and frustration with gender-based genre pigeonholing, while building a chaotic live reputation from DIY gigs to supporting IDLES.
Fun Facts
- The band's name comes from Lambrini perry, described by guitarist Phoebe Lunny as 'toilet wine for sluts,' referencing its marketing to 'undiscriminating female drinkers.'
- Their 2023 EP You're Welcome featured a cover of a flaming pile of feces and was part-funded by a £6,000 inheritance Selin Macieira-Boşgelmez received after her father's death.
- They filled in last-minute at Brighton's 2022 Great Escape Festival, which led to signing with Big Scary Monsters.
- Album title Who Let the Dogs Out (2025) stems from an inside joke referencing Baha Men's song.
Members
- Phoebe Lunny - lead vocals, original
- Selin Macieira-Boşgelmez - bass, original
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Bikini Kill - stylistic inspiration from riot grrrl era (general influence on political punk) [1990s onward]
- Huggy Bear - stylistic inspiration from riot grrrl era (general influence on political punk) [1990s onward]
- Iggy Pop & The Stooges - influence on garage punk and attitude (general punk sound) [1970s onward]
Key Collaborators
- Phoebe Lunny - co-founder, vocals/guitar (all releases including You're Welcome and Who Let the Dogs Out) [2019-present]
- Selin Macieira-Boşgelmez (Lilly Macieira) - co-founder, bass (all releases since 2020 including You're Welcome and Who Let the Dogs Out) [2020-present]
- Iggy Pop - performed at his event; later collaboration (Dog Day Afternoon (2023); cover of 'Personal Jesus' on Trevor Horn album)
External Links
Tags: #punk, #punk-rock, #rock
References
Heard on WWOZ
Lambrini Girls has been played 1 time on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.